Obituary of Margaret Sprenkle Halleck

Margaret Helen Sprenkle Halleck, 69, of Port Matilda, died Sunday, January 4, 2015 of complications from treatment for breast cancer. She was a seventeen year survivor. Born March 3, 1945 in Penfield, New York, she was the daughter of Robert Louis and Barbara Todd Sprenkle. She married Phillip Halleck, on June 9, 1967 in Rochester, NY, who survives at home. She is survived by a brother, Todd Sprenkle, of California, a sister, Roberta (Robin) Chappars and her husband, Steven, of Louisville, KY and a niece, Margaret (Peg) Chappars, of St. Petersburg, FL. Margaret was a 1963 graduate of Penfield High School, Rochester, NY. She graduated in 1967 with a BS in Biology / Geology from the University of Rochester. In 1972 she took an MS degree in Paleoecology from the University of Chicago, and held a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of New Mexico (1980). She held post-doctoral positions at Penn State, University of Texas, and the University of Utah. Since 1991 she was employed at Penn State University in Cell and Molecular Biology as a Senior Research Associate, retiring in 2009. She coauthored more than thirty professional papers. Peggy led a full and active life aside from her professional accomplishments. She was an avid vocal musician. An early member of the Sangre de Christo Chorale, and member of the Los Alamos Chorale Society, she sang for many years with the State College Choral Society. She participated in numerous concert tours of Europe and Australia with the Pennsylvania Chorale Birding was also an important avocation and she could identify most by their calls. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County and for many years acted as web master for their web page. She also used her computer skills to help assemble their monthly newsletter. A memorial service will be held at a time to be announced on February 14th at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County with the Reverend Mark Hayes officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society, Centre Unit 123 South Sparks Street, State College, PA 16801. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.